Osteodensitometry after total hip replacement with uncemented taper-design stem.

We followed 24 patients (26 hips) with uncemented total hip replacement for a minimum of 3 years. Patient mean age was 52 (40-69) years. The aim was to evaluate femoral periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) using quantitative computed tomography osteodensitometry. At 3-years' follow-up, 25 hips were clinically rated good or excellent. The mean Harris hip score rose from 58 (49-68) pre-operatively to 94 (81-98) at the last follow-up. All hips were radiologically stable. Mean decrease of the overall BMD in the femoral metaphysis was 14.3%, and mean decrease of cortical BMD was 17.3%. In the diaphysis, mean decrease of overall BMD was 5.5% and mean decrease of cortical BMD was 4.5%. Observed loss was markedly lower than in comparable series with uncemented stems.